Metal-based magnetic functional fluids with amorphous particles

Two metal-based magnetic functional fluids, Ga-Sn and Ga-In magnetic liquids, were fabricated by doping with Fe73.5Nb3Cu1Si13.5B9 metallic glass particles and nanoscale Fe3O4 particles, respectively. The saturation magnetization of the metallic glass particles, Fe73.5Nb3Cu1Si13.5B9, is about 125 emu g(-1), nearly 50% larger than that of Fe3O4 crystalline particles which are usually used in water-based magnetic fluids. It is discovered that functional fluids, Ga85.8In14.2 and Ga91.6Sn8.4 alloy liquids, with Fe73.5Nb3Cu1Si13.5B9 particles exhibit high saturation magnetization as well as low coercivity and remanence. Furthermore, the magnetic hysteresis curves confirm that the liquid metal-based magnetic functional fluids with Fe73.5Nb3Cu1Si13.5B9 particles have higher magnetization than the metal-based Fe3O4 fluids. Owing to the high alloy boiling point more than 2000 K, the metal-based functional fluids should be useful materials for engineering applications when the surrounding temperature is relatively high. Interestingly, these functional fluids offer the properties of superior thermal or electrical conductivity over conventional water-based fluids.